Person:Kong Lee (1)

Lee Kong Chian was born and raised in Fu Yong village, Nan Ann district, in the Fujian province. His father, Lee Kuo Chuan, was a poor tailor and came to Singapore with his son in 1903 in search of a better life. Lee went to school at the Anglo-Indian School at Serangoon where he learnt English. He subsequently enrolled into Yeung Chia School (predecessor of Chung Cheng School) at Aliwal Street to continue with his Chinese education. An excellent student, he received a Manchu government scholarship to study in Chi Nan school in Nanjing in 1908. He topped the school and headed for Ching Hwa High School in Peking next for advanced study. He subsequently went to the College of Mining and Communication in Tang Shan to study engineering but political turmoil forced him to cut short his studies and return to SingaporeLee's big break at business came when rubber tycoon Tan Kah Kee offered him a job managing Tan's rubber company. Tan was so impressed with Lee's capabilities, he made Lee a part of his family by marrying him to his eldest daughter, Tan Ai Leh.Lee's business acumen made him a multi-millionaire. "The first modern towkay in Singapore", however, remained a humble man. He established the Lee Foundation and devoted the last fifteen years of his life to philanthropic work.Lee began his battle with ill health in 1964 and passed away peacefully three years later at his mansion in Mount Rosie. He left half of his fortune to the Foundation.

1.   Lee Kong Chian.

   By Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman written on 2005-07-13National Library Board Singaporehttp://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_978_2006-06-16.html